Apparatus for exhausting air from fruit-cans.



' No. 757,895. PATBNTED'APRJIQ, 1904.

R. C. DAVIS. A APPARATUS FOR BXHAUSTING AIR FROM FRUIT CANS.

APPLICATION FILED DEU- B, 1903.

I0 MODEL.

eAlfom eys rouma, WASNINOTGN n c UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. DAVIS, OF. COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,895, dated April 19, 1904. Application filed December 8, 1903. Serial No. 184,327. (No model.)

To all whom it puny concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Exhausting Air from Fruit-Cans, &c., of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for exhausting air from fruit-cans and other vessels in which it is desirable to produce a vacuum.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus by means of which a vacuum may be quickly produced in fruit-cans or other vessels and maintained while the vessel, of whatever kind, is hermetically sealed with solder or other suitable material.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the can or other receptacle, an improved form of closure with which an air-exhaust apparatus may be connected to effect the removal of air from the interior of the vessel and which may be temporarily closed while the exhaust mechanism is connected therewith, so that a vacuum may be maintained in the vessel during the operation of sealing.

In attaining the objects above stated I make use of the form of apparatus hereinafter fully described, illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, and having the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an air-exhaust apparatus, and a vessel with which the apparatus is operatively connected, the vessel being partly in section. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of another form of vessel provided with a closure constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a clamp used to temporarily close the tube with which the exhaust mechanism is connected. Fig. 4 is a detail view in section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout, B designates the base of the apparatus, which may be of any suitable character. Upon the base B is mounted an air-pump P, which may be of any approved construction and which is in the present instance illustrated in typical form only. The air-pump P comprises in the form illustrated a cylinder 1, in which apiston 2is arranged for reciprocation. From the bottom of the cylinder 1 a flexible tube 3 extends to the vessel D, which may be a fruitcan, a jar, or even a keg or cask. In the preferred form of the invention the vessel D is illustrated as a fruit-can of the ordinary form, provided with a lid I, which has extending up ward therefrom and preferably at the center a collapsible metal tube 5. The tube 5 is of suitable stifiness to permit the attachment thereto of the flexible tube 3 without collapse; but it is soft enough to be readily crushed by means of a clamp of the form illustrated.

In operating the apparatus the vessel D, which must previously be filled with the material to be preserved therein, will be placed upon the base B adjacent to a standard 6, from the top of which extends an arm 7 provided at the end with a lug 8. The arm 7 is provided with a channel in which moves a sliding jaw 9, to which motion is imparted by means of a threaded shaft 10, which turns in a threaded opening in the standard adjacent to the arm and which is provided at one end with a crank 11. The vessel D having been placed in position adjacent to the standard 6, the tube 5 of the lid 4 is placed between the lug 8 and the sliding jaw 9. The flexible tube 3 is fitted over the end of the collapsible tube 5, and the air-pump P is set in operation to produce a vacuum within the vessel D. When the air within the vessel has been exhausted to the extent necessary or desired,

the threaded shaft 10 will be turned, by means of the crank 11, until the sliding jaw 9 compresses the tube 5 against the lug 8 and completely closes the opening in the tube. The tube 5 having been temporarily closed in the manner explained, the flexible tube 3 will be detached therefrom, and permanent closure of the tube 5 will be eflected by placing a drop 9 of solder in the open end of the tube. The

clamp will then be removed from the collapsed tube, and the contents of the vessel will be completely protected from the action of air.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a keg D, provided with a bung 20, pierced by an opening 21 and having attached thereto a collapsible tube 22. This form of vessel is obviously adapted to be hermetically sealed by means of the apparatus already described, and no other change is necessary to adapt the exhausting and closing apparatus to a vessel of this sort than simply to increase the size of the several elements of the structure.

In describing the invention I have disclosed only the simplest form of embodiment thereof as sufiicient for showing the principle of construction and mode of operation. It will, however, be obvious that instead of the simple form of apparatus described and shown, which is adapted for use upon a single vessel only, a plurality of exhaust-tubes may be connected with the pump, so that a plurality of Vessels may be simultaneously exhausted.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of clamp for collapsing the tube attached to the lid or other form of closure for the vessel, it is to be understood that any other preferred form of clamp by means of which the necessary degree of force may be quickly applied may be substituted.

By means of the apparatus described in the foregoing paragraphs the removal of air from vessels in which are contained substances which cannot be sterilized by heat is conveniently and quickly effected, thus enabling preserving processes to be carried out without raising the temperature of the substances to be preserved and without the great inconvenience and difiiculty which has hitherto prevented the general adoption of cold preserving processes.

The apparatus is especially useful in connection with vessels of such character that the boiling of the contents thereof or even heating to the temperature necessary for pasteurization is impracticable.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1s I v 7 ;An apparatus of the class described comprising a base, air exhausting mechanism mounted thereon, a vertical standard carried by the base, an arm projecting laterally from the top of the standard and having a fixed lug at one end, a-jaw arranged for sliding movement in the arm and coacting with the lug, and means for imparting movement to the jaw.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ROBERT C. DAVIS.

v Witnesses:

MATT R. J ONES, W. V. BAKER. 

